level determinations were implemented in Version 5, amongst others (Casey et al.
2010). Access to the Pathfinder Version 5.2 collection, including the entire record
from 1981 to 2010 (www.nodc.noaa.gov/SatelliteData/pathfinder4km), is available
online with full descriptions of the products and parameters provided in the User
Guide. In addition to the SST values, Version 5.2 also provides wind speed, sea ice
and aerosol content, as well as several other useful parameters that can be used to
calculate higher-order statistics, individually determine what constitutes a ‘‘good’’
SST value, and examine the quality test output.
Pathfinder Version 6.0 is in preparation (Casey personal communication) and,
significantly, will conform to the newest Group for High-Resolution SST
(GHRSST) data format, data content, and metadata requirements. These
improvements in Version 6 will enhance the compatibility of Pathfinder data with
numerous GHRSST-compliant data streams, and will result in a more accurate,
consistent, and useful climate data record for SST that will enable an even greater
range of science and applications (Casey et al. 2010).
12.2.2 Group for High-Resolution SST
To address an emerging need for accurate, near real-time, moderate resolution SST
products, the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) High Resolution SST Pilot Project (GHRSST-PP) was initiated as an international collaboration in 2002, and replaced in 2009 by the Group for High-Resolution SST
(GHRSST). The aim of the GHRSST is to provide the best quality SST data for
applications in short, medium and decadal/climate time scales in the most cost
effective and efficient manner through international collaboration and scientific
innovation (www.ghrsst.org). Over the last decade, the GHRSST Project has
provided a framework for the study and application of global SST at \10 km
resolution using TIR and PMW satellite and in situ data, with applications demonstrated in ocean and atmospheric forecasting systems (Donlon et al. 2007). Key
developments in the success of the GHRSST Project (Donlon et al. 2009) include,
amongst others: (a) international agreement on the definitions of different SST
parameters in the upper layer of the ocean that distinguish between measurements
made by TIR radiometers, PMW radiometers, in situ sub-surface observations and
merged SST outputs; (b) extensive research to ensure that SST diurnal variability
is properly flagged within observational data; (c) methods to correct for bias in
different satellite data sets; (d) methods to convert between radiometric skin SST
and the bulk temperature measured by ships and buoys now used by operational
SST analysis systems; (e) satellite SST data product formats and product content to
include measurement uncertainty estimates for each derived SST value; and (f)
operational implementation of new SST analysis products using in situ data
merged with PMW and TIR satellite data. In essence, GHRSST has built a new
generation of data products and services providing wide and open access in near
real-time to many SST data products. Details of GHRSST SST products are
12 Thermal Applications
319
2010). Access to the Pathfinder Version 5.2 collection, including the entire record
from 1981 to 2010 (www.nodc.noaa.gov/SatelliteData/pathfinder4km), is available
online with full descriptions of the products and parameters provided in the User
Guide. In addition to the SST values, Version 5.2 also provides wind speed, sea ice
and aerosol content, as well as several other useful parameters that can be used to
calculate higher-order statistics, individually determine what constitutes a ‘‘good’’
SST value, and examine the quality test output.
Pathfinder Version 6.0 is in preparation (Casey personal communication) and,
significantly, will conform to the newest Group for High-Resolution SST
(GHRSST) data format, data content, and metadata requirements. These
improvements in Version 6 will enhance the compatibility of Pathfinder data with
numerous GHRSST-compliant data streams, and will result in a more accurate,
consistent, and useful climate data record for SST that will enable an even greater
range of science and applications (Casey et al. 2010).
12.2.2 Group for High-Resolution SST
To address an emerging need for accurate, near real-time, moderate resolution SST
products, the Global Ocean Data Assimilation Experiment (GODAE) High Resolution SST Pilot Project (GHRSST-PP) was initiated as an international collaboration in 2002, and replaced in 2009 by the Group for High-Resolution SST
(GHRSST). The aim of the GHRSST is to provide the best quality SST data for
applications in short, medium and decadal/climate time scales in the most cost
effective and efficient manner through international collaboration and scientific
innovation (www.ghrsst.org). Over the last decade, the GHRSST Project has
provided a framework for the study and application of global SST at \10 km
resolution using TIR and PMW satellite and in situ data, with applications demonstrated in ocean and atmospheric forecasting systems (Donlon et al. 2007). Key
developments in the success of the GHRSST Project (Donlon et al. 2009) include,
amongst others: (a) international agreement on the definitions of different SST
parameters in the upper layer of the ocean that distinguish between measurements
made by TIR radiometers, PMW radiometers, in situ sub-surface observations and
merged SST outputs; (b) extensive research to ensure that SST diurnal variability
is properly flagged within observational data; (c) methods to correct for bias in
different satellite data sets; (d) methods to convert between radiometric skin SST
and the bulk temperature measured by ships and buoys now used by operational
SST analysis systems; (e) satellite SST data product formats and product content to
include measurement uncertainty estimates for each derived SST value; and (f)
operational implementation of new SST analysis products using in situ data
merged with PMW and TIR satellite data. In essence, GHRSST has built a new
generation of data products and services providing wide and open access in near
real-time to many SST data products. Details of GHRSST SST products are
12 Thermal Applications
319